Anyone who has ever been to my house knows I have a passion for branches. The wilder they are, the more I love them. One of the reasons I use branches in both my own home and in the homes of my clients, is to have that sense of bringing nature indoors. And unlike fresh flowers, branches can often last for weeks if not months. This month, Natalie will show you how to make the most of the flowering branches that abound. I always know that winter is close to being over when I see these lovely flowering branches in my home.
1) Now that spring flowers are in bloom, which types of flowering branches can we expect to see?
We start seeing the first blooming branches in January and they last until late April. Cherry blossoms are currently blooming and are so special because they come in white and pale pink. In February we were getting Quince and Almond and moving in to March we’ll see Apple and Dogwood.
2) Do you have a favorite spring-time branch?
I love white Quince for the sheer fact that it is the least messy branch and lasts the longest. Earlier this Spring I bought Quince for my home and it lasted two weeks. When the branches do die, the blossoms wilt rather than snow little petals everywhere as branches such as Cherry do. My less practical side loves Dogwood. It is my favorite looking branch as it is delicate yet has so much personality.
3) In terms of care, are there any tips you have to maintaining branches?
I always get branches as closed as possible so that they will last as long as possible. They like a medium amount of water and a fresh cut. I recently heard someone say that they are not good with branches as they never last long. I realized it is a common misconception to think that you are at fault when actually it is just the nature of the flower to not las long. As a side tip, Lilac is not necessarily a blooming branch but it is available during the spring and their woody stems like to be smashed with a hammer so that they can maximize water retention.
4) When it comes to branches, do you prefer having them solo (similar to how we shot these cherry blossoms) or with other flowers?
When it comes to flowers in my home, I love simplicity. You will commonly see a single variety of flower on my table, rather than a proper arrangement. When the flowers are are on their own, you can really appreciate each stem. Branches are the quintessential example of that. It only takes a couple branches to transform and bring life to a room.
To get inspired by past Blooms in Season posts – click here.
Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Images by Ali Hartwell for Sacramento Street
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